  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Kit of House Lannister  
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Do you talk about your faith with those around you? Or do you keep it to yourself? This week's Spiritual Newsletter is about different ways of sharing your spiritual path with the world.
kittiara |
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A few days ago I was reading a conversation on a social networking website. The lady who started the conversation appears to be a very religious person. The vast majority of her status updates are of a Christian nature. Mostly the updates are about Jesus and the blessings He has brought to her life.
The conversation in question was more political than religious, but it soon got out of hand when the lady and some of her friends began judging those with opposing views. Accusations of sin and being followers of Satan were handed out.The next status update from the lady was questioning why some long-time friends had deleted her from their friends list.
The incident made me think about how we share our faith with others. Some people are very outgoing about their faith. Some even consider it their mission in life to bring others into their faith. Others consider it to be of a personal nature and will only talk about it when asked, or even not at all.
I’m one of those people who hardly ever speak about their faith. Of course, I talk about it in this Newsletter, and I do have a few items in my portfolio about my religious experiences. Writing.Com is a great place to express yourself, whatever your faith or spiritual path. People here don’t tend to judge, and they tend to be interested even if their own path is very different. Of course, there’s also the factor that if they don’t like an item, they can simply move on, no harm done.
Blogs are an excellent place to talk about anything and everything. I’ve come across a few faith-based blogs and even though they’re not really my thing, the authors seem to enjoy writing them and they certainly appear to get a following. Again, people who are interested in a particular topic will hang around, and those who find that it’s not for them will move along.
It’s different when your audience is less anonymous. It can be daunting to discuss your faith with friends and family. Like politics, it’s a tricky subject manner because just about everyone has a different opinion, especially about all the finer details. There are so many different faiths, religions and spiritual paths in this world, not to mention the many agnostics and atheists amongst us. And even within certain faiths there are different lines of thought and interpretations of the holy books.
This is why some people, me included, tend to leave the topic well alone. I’ll share my thoughts when asked about what I believe, but that’s about it. I’ll also be the first to admit that I don’t have all the answers. People like status-update-lady, however, are full of the fire of conviction and whilst this can be a beautiful sight to behold, it can also lead to pain. I’m certain her intentions will have been good, but I doubt anyone will enjoy being called a follower of Satan for merely disagreeing about the state of the education system, as happened in this case.
I realise that some people are merely concerned for the souls of those they care about. They’re frightened that if their loved ones do not follow the right path, they’re not going to have the joyful life (and afterlife) they could have, if only they saw the truth. Those people want to show their loved ones the truth, and worry about actions and viewpoints they perceive as wrong.
My opinion, which I hope is not offensive and possibly unwelcome, is that the best way to convince others you might be onto something good is by living a good life. The saying “actions speak louder than words” may be a cliché, but it’s true. When you’re kind to others, this will bring out kindness in return. When a friend is in trouble, try not to judge them harshly but offer support and helpful advice instead. When a friend is sad, lift them up, and when a loved one is happy, share their joy.
Nobody is perfect, so when you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to admit to it and apologize, and try to be open to someone else’s apologies. Be there for others. Smile. Hug. Care.
Do I do all those things I state above? Well, I try. I’m not always the best at being the kind of person I’d like to be. In fact, I'd be the first to call myself deeply flawed. Hopefully, one day I will succeed. And when I succeed, hopefully one day someone will ask me where I get my inner strength from. That is the day when I will answer that it comes from my faith and maybe, just maybe, that person will want to know more…
kittiara
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This week's Editor's Picks are all about sharing. I hope you will enjoy them  .
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| |  | Acts of Love (E)
Reaching out to the world shows that you love - yourself, me, and everyone.
#1215710 by Kenzie  |
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| | | Our Sharing (E)
No one man is an island, nor should we be... especially artists.
#1196197 by cwiz  |
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#1115582 by Not Available. |
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The Spiritual Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in!
spidey  - Great Newsletter! I definitely agree with you. I think lasting, healthy relationships require compromise and mutual respect.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the Newsletter
~~~
I might be here, now.  - Great Newsletter, Kit! I signed up for it yesterday.
I think we get so busy with our lives that we forget to take the time needed to nurture our spiritual growth. Sometimes, we let it fade along the way. I totally believe one can be spiritual without having to be stringently religious. Your article about relationships and faith does make perfect sense. You love and honor a person for his spiritual light, it need not be a light gleaming from the same religion. Understanding and respect go a long way to make a relationship healthy.
Unfortunately, some relationships are unhealthy and should not trap a couple in darkness. However, when a truly healthy one forms afterward, it is the most beautiful gift. [e;smile}
Thank you for highlighting "Passionesque!" [13+] in the Newsletter. I appreciate it.
WW
Thank you so much for writing in! I'm glad you enjoyed the Newsletter, and thank you for writing such a lovely piece! I was very happy to include it!
I very much agree with you. There are, sadly, unhealthy relationships in abundance and nobody should be trapped in those. But when you do find someone special, and nurture the relationship, it can be very beautiful indeed .
I also agree that we can be spiritual without being religious as such. We each have a path that's the right one for us. Sometimes that path can be difficult to find, but when we do, it's worth it.
~~~
Quick-Quill  - I commend your idealology and the two examples. I hate to say that in the "real" world these are aborritions. When one is of a strong faith and the other of no faith, not practicing or of a completly different faith, it usually ends up in controversey. There is a scripture that says "Be ye not unequally yoked toether with unbelievers." This is more true than not and is often the cause of many a marriage break-up. While your point is more that relationships need compromising, and I couldn't agree more, mixed faith marriages are more often failures than successes in the long run. My observation, ten years is usually the max. Not in every case, so I don't need individual sitings, but in my length of years and variety of religious friends, this is more the norm than not.
I am begining a book about two people who meet and part because of perceived differences, only to find they aren't as far apart as they thought. I will post it when I am done.
Thank you so much for writing in! I agree that not every mixed-faith relationship will work out. However, I feel that they can. Of course, there are many factors that will play a part in this, not in the least the individuals within the relationship .
I would be interested in reading your novel, so please don't hesitate to send me a link when you post it, if you'd like . It sounds like it would be a very good read!
~~~
Incurable Romantic - Kit,
Your letter about relationships came from the heart, just like the one you did on the search for your father. You put your heart into all of your letters, and the rest of your work, and it shows. Keep up the great work! I'll be reading them!
Thank you so much for your enduring support! You always leave such encouraging comments, and I truly appreciate them. Thank you .
~~~
madness' grace - The problem with simple spirituality is that it has little formal truth. To believe one can know God by simply imagining Him goes against the teaching of the Bible. Simply thinking that Gods love is sufficient to save someone, then this goes against the truths of what the Bible teaches. Knowing the truths of Christianity, which is given by the grace of God in the seeking of Jesus Christ, and to understand the truth of what Christ and the Bible teaches, then you would truly know that simple spirituality is dead and does not lead to anywhere but death. (Notice I say anywhere, not anything.) To understand the truths of Christianity is to know that this is true. You can't know God and you cannot find your salvation by simple imagination and belief. One is not subjected to damnation because of love and acceptance of others, but because of the rejection of Christ, who is our Savior. One does not come to the Father except through Christ, which is meant eternally.
Thank you so much for writing in. I appreciate your views and I thank you for sharing them .
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Spiritual Newsletter Team,
Sophy  , northernwrites, kittiara
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Spiritual: October 14, 2009 Issue [#3333]
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